Pattern-chain guide for looms



Demo, 1927,

C. R. HOWARD PATTERN CHAIN GUIDE FOR Locus 0 W. a @k Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

untrue STATES PIA-TENT oral-cs.

CHARLES R. HOW A313. OF VVORCIEfiJlJEIIEt. MiLSSACHUSETTS, AELSIGNOR T0 CROMLPTON &

KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, (333 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF PAULTEEIl-CHAlN GUIDE FOR LQOMS.

Application filed September 15, 19:26. Serial No. 135,653.

This invention relates to improvements in guides for pattern chains such as are used for the box motions of 'multi-eolor looms and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a guide so designed as i to permit the reversal of the patternchain and the formation of the chain with a series of loops. I

Certain repeats of intricate patterns call for a large number of bars on the box chain and in order to nest the chain conveniently and economically .there is frequently used a guide and support for the chain, certain bars of the chain located at intervals being of increased length'to rest on the support andthe shorter bars passing through the support to form loops, thus making it possible to accommodate a long chain in a comparatively small space, ,Some fabrics have a repeat which is symmetrical about a center line and it is possible because of this symmetry to reverse the pattern chain after one-half of the repeat has been woven. I

find that the long bars of the chain which are spaced to rest 011 a guide will occasion ally slip off the guides and as thechain moves around the chain cylinder the long bar will in time come up on the under. side of the guide. When the chain in this position is moving in a forward direction the long bar will ordinarily be able to move upwardly from under the chain guidewitlr out diiiiculty, but when the chainis reversed so that thestretohof chain moving toward the cylinder is substantially vertical I find that the long bar is likely to break either a part of the pattern chain or a part of the guide. It is accordingly a further object of my invention to provide a pattern chain guide or support having a yielding portion so located as to support the long bars when the latter are moving in one direction and yieldable upwardly to permit easy passing of the long bars when the chain is reversed and a long bar has accidentally fallen below the guide.

} Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the chain guide having my invention applied thereto and showing a portion ofthe loom frame on'which the same is mounted,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary diagonal top plan of that portion of the chain guide having my' invention applied thereto, V

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of one end of the yielding guidepand 1 Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 butshowing the yielding part moved outwardly to permit the passage of an im properly positioned long bar.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings frame 10 of the loom is provided with anarm 11 to whichis secured a shaft 12 for a chain cylinder 18. a The latter maybe driven in any approved manner by mechanism not shown and will ordinarily receive an angular movement each pick of the loom to advance the chain 14 one space at a time. Said chain formedwith a plurality of links 15 lying on each side of the chain and connected together by means of bars the great majority of which are of the short form shown at 16 in Fig. 2 and a .few of which are longer and locatedin pairs at periodicintervals in the lengthiof the chain as indicated at 17. -The bars have mounted thereon socalled balls 18 and .sinkers 19 which, determine the vertical position of indicating levers not shown but ofany usual form, said levers being operatively connected to the boxes of the loom. I

In order to support and nest the relativelylong chain there is provided a guide 20 having a cross web 21 secured to, the frame 10 by means of bolts 22, one of which'is shown in the drawings, and having spaced substantially parallel runs 23;with upwardly projecting chain bar supporting flanges Fig. 2 is avertical section online 2 2 of 24. Vertical arms 25, one for each side of the guide support a rod 26 to which is secured auplate 27 on which the upper stretch or portion of the chain normally rests.

As the cylinder 13 is rotated the chain 14 is moved thereby, the greater part of the bars 16 passing down between the guides 23 but the bars 17 of increased lengthresting on the flanges 24L so that the chain is formed in loops as indicated at the bottom of Fig; 1; The matter thus far described is of com mon construction and forms no part of my present invention.

Incarrying out my improvements I provide a portion of each run 23 with a yielding spring member 30 which is flexible and has riveted to one end thereof a block 31 screwed to a portion of the runas at 82, the

may he flush with those parts of the runs on which the long bars slide.

hen the chain is moving around the cylinder in a right hand direction the bars 17 will move down almost in a vertical line and will be guided along the yielding supportsSO onto the flanges 2e, thisdownward motion of the right hand part of the chain being accompanied by an upwardmovement of the left hand part of the chain. Should a long bar 17 slip down between the flanges 24- by becoming twisted it will be able to move upwardly along the surface 35 of the runs and ,no harm will .result. hen the chain is reversed,however, so to go in a leitt handdirection around cylinder 13 anda long har l7 aceidentallv falls below the runs it will eventually be lifted againstthe under side of the yielding supports 30. at which tinie the latter will be flexed to theposition shown in Fig. 5 to permit the long bar 17 to move upwardly toward the cylinder without damage to the guide.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a chain guide orsupportwith runs parts otwhich are tiexible to yield under pressure when one of the long bars of the chain which is in'iproperlygpositioned arrives thereunder andthat said yieldingpart normally serves as a part oi? the guide when the chain is moving in .the opposite direction.

Having thus described. my invention. it will be apparent that changes and modificationsmay be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wishto be limited to the details herein disclosed but what Iclaim is:

1. In a chainguide or supportioraloom having a pattern cylinder and a chain for messes the cylinder certain bars of which are longer than other bars, a pair of spaced supporting runs to supportthe longer bars, and flexible means interposed in the runs to flex upwardly to permit a portion of the chain to move toward the cylinder when one of the long bars is in'iproperly located below the runs.

In a chain guide for a loom having a pattern cylinder and a pattern chain for the cylinder certain bars of which are longer than other bars, said guide having means located .under the cylinder to receive and support the longer bars of the Chain, and

flexible portions for the means to support the long bars when travel ng in either direction over the means and yieldable upwardly when a long bar improperly located below the means engages the flexible portions when moving toward the cylinder the top portions of the flexible portions being in alignment: with adjacent parts of the means to provide smooth guiding surfaces for the ends of the long bars on the chain.

4. In a chain guidefor a loom having a pattern cylinder and a pattern cha'incertain bars of which are longer than other bars, a .pair of spaced runs to receive and support the lou er bars otthe ch ain,a1 i,d a flexible device torini a .part of the guides and secured to the latter andextendingupwardly from the point of attachment to the guides toward the cylinder, the hpperends til) otthe portions adjacent the cylinder being supported by parts of theguides said flexibleiportions yielding when engagedon the under side thereof by one of the long' bars improperly located below the runs as the inillroperly located har moves toward the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atlixed my s gnature.

. CHARLES R. HQWARD. 

